Word of Wisdom - one more time...

[anatess]

Originally Posted by ztodd

Yes, I would agree that is an irony.

But how would you propose the church should change the temple requirements?

That's for the church leadership to figure out. But, if I'm not mistaken, the temple recommend interview doesn't specify tobacco or alcohol, it only asks if you are following the words of wisdom. It is your responsibility to say NO if you are eating 100 slices of pizza a day, is it not?

[Hemidakota]

Why is there is no laugh button? [100 slices of pizza]

[ztodd]

Pizza's not all that bad for you- if you have the right ingredients. Maybe 100 pieces wouldn't even be that bad, if they were small pieces, and you had a metabolism as high as mine.

[Soul_Searcher]

I'm inclined to agree with anatess. If people want to get picky, the WOW doesn't even mention ALCOHOL but 'strong drink'. That could be open to interpretation, too. I could interpret that to mean no spirits, but beers and lagers are fine.

We as members tend to focus on what we SHOULDNT be doin rather than what we SHOULD (Bizarre, really)

Im really into health living. I have ALWAYS wondered how grossly overweight people can get away with saying they live the word of wisdom just because they dont smoke and drink. That is a SMALL part of it. The WOW is a LIFESTYLE not abstinence from substances.

Its scientifically proven as well as in the WOW what we need to be eating. 50% of your plate should be vegetables/salad, a quarter (preferable wholegrain) carbs, and a quarter protein. Bad fats (cakes, biscuits, all hydrogenated and sat fats) should be eaten SPARINGLY. That to me means maybe once or twice a week depending on what it is.

Obviously I am not judging overweight people for their take on the WOW. It is up to them how they interpret it. Its just weird how all we focus on is alcohol, tobacco and tea and coffee when there's so much more in it.

[rameumptom]

Anatess,

I think the problem here is you are supposing that all commandments are very rigid and specific, when they are not. Nor are they all of the same weight (pun intended).

We have a minimum standard for certain things, such as tithes = 10%, or WoW means no coffee/tea/tobacco/alcohol. But there are higher levels of both of these commandments: law of consecration and being "prudent" in what we eat and how much we eat.

I agree that a person who sits down to eat 100 normal size pizzas has a WoW problem. The issue is, do we make the bishop's duties so much harder by requiring living the letter of every single law, or do we give people a minimal standard and have them live by the spirit of the law? Personally, I believe the letter killeth, but the "spirit giveth life."

Joseph Smith taught that we teach correct principles and let the people govern themselves. For those who overeat, simply because they have an addiction, do we really want to take each and everyone behind the woodshed? Or is it better to encourage them, and allow each of them to be accountable for their own self stewardship before God? I prefer the latter. And that is how the Church is supposed to work: give us a minimal standard to start with, and then allow each of us to grow spiritually as we prepare ourselves.

[MobyMule]

Well we could become like the airlines and require two temple recommends for those with a weight problem.

I mean come on. It is the duty of the Leadership to teach the principles. It is on the member to do their best and be honest in their interview for the TR.

[Soul_Searcher]

Haha thats funny moby!

Ur right though-there are more important issues to be focusing on how people intrepret the WOW anyhow. In my opinion anyway. I know people who are drinking and have recommends. I also know people who are child abusers and still go to the temple. There's more important things to be worried about than what someone is drinking.

[anatess]

Originally Posted by rameumptom

Anatess,

I think the problem here is you are supposing that all commandments are very rigid and specific, when they are not. Nor are they all of the same weight (pun intended).

We have a minimum standard for certain things, such as tithes = 10%, or WoW means no coffee/tea/tobacco/alcohol. But there are higher levels of both of these commandments: law of consecration and being "prudent" in what we eat and how much we eat.

I agree that a person who sits down to eat 100 normal size pizzas has a WoW problem. The issue is, do we make the bishop's duties so much harder by requiring living the letter of every single law, or do we give people a minimal standard and have them live by the spirit of the law? Personally, I believe the letter killeth, but the "spirit giveth life."

Joseph Smith taught that we teach correct principles and let the people govern themselves. For those who overeat, simply because they have an addiction, do we really want to take each and everyone behind the woodshed? Or is it better to encourage them, and allow each of them to be accountable for their own self stewardship before God? I prefer the latter. And that is how the Church is supposed to work: give us a minimal standard to start with, and then allow each of us to grow spiritually as we prepare ourselves.

Sorry to sound pig-headed about this, Rame... I see what you're saying, but I don't understand how eating healthy is a higher level of commandment? I would think eating healthy is the easier commandment. I think of WOW in the spiritual sense - where I don't think of it as don't drink this don't smoke that, but more of a, what in the world are you doing, don't you know that's bad for you? That kind of thing.

[rameumptom]

You aren't pig headed. You are just ready to live a higher level of the WoW than others are. Good for you.